For weeks, young protesters across India mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government while rallying under the unlikely banner of the "Cockroach Janta Party". Their campaign achieved something few movements have managed during Modi's more than 12 years in power — the resignation of a cabinet minister.

Modi, one of India's most dominant prime ministers in decades, has built a reputation for decisive leadership and has rarely been seen yielding to public pressure.

The resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan last month marked a notable exception. Analysts said the concession reflected the growing political influence of India's youth, who make up nearly half of the country's population, and the rise of digitally driven activism.

"This particular round has ended in a very important defeat for Mr Modi," said political analyst Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of a biography of the prime minister.

He said the resignation had emboldened people to protest against a government that critics have long accused of suppressing dissent.

"The threshold of fear has been broken. People are no longer scared to go and step out and protest," he said.

The movement began in May as a satirical campaign demanding Pradhan's resignation over repeated leaks of examination papers that can determine students' academic and career prospects.

As demonstrations spread through online mobilisation and street protests, the campaign evolved into a broader demand for government accountability, fuelled by frustration over youth unemployment, transparency and the functioning of public institutions.

Mukhopadhyay said it was the first time a student-led movement had sustained enough momentum to force the government to concede its principal demand without the backing of established political parties.

"Each one had their own little grievance about life not taking them anywhere," he said.

Whether the movement can translate its momentum into electoral support against Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party remains uncertain.

Saurav Das, a spokesperson for the Cockroach Janta Party, said the campaign had demonstrated the power of public pressure in a democracy.

"An arrogant government which did not blink for 12 years was forced to blink when the youth united," he said.

Das said the movement had no intention of becoming a political party and instead wanted to continue as a public watchdog.

"We want to remain a pressure group," he said.

The protests appear to have prompted changes within Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

Since the demonstrations, Modi has increasingly appeared in short, vertical videos tailored for platforms such as Instagram, while the party has expanded its outreach to Generation Z through online campaigns. Some BJP lawmakers have also adopted youth slang during public appearances, including parliamentary speeches.

The shift contrasts with the government's initial response, when it largely dismissed the protests. As participation grew, however, officials were forced to acknowledge the movement and respond to its demands.

Following Pradhan's resignation, Modi also spoke about forgiving those who had mocked him, a move seen by observers as an attempt to reconnect with younger voters.

Mukhopadhyay said the protests had damaged Modi's long-held image as a leader largely insulated from public pressure.

"That image of Mr Modi is heavily tarnished," he said.

Some supporters of the prime minister have responded by attempting to identify protesters online and sharing their personal information in what critics say is an effort to intimidate them.

The movement also drew support from opposition leaders, rights activists and Bollywood celebrities. Demonstrators in several cities organised solidarity protests, while supporters supplied food and other essentials to hunger strikers camped in New Delhi.

For student leader Neha Bora, who joined the hunger strike in the capital, the campaign proved that ordinary citizens could still hold those in power accountable.

"If they do not serve the people of this country, no matter what cabinet minister they are, they will be brought down from their seats," she said.